Oscillation-responsive device.



UNr'rnn STA-'rss Irn'inivr OFFICE. 'LEE DEv FOREST, OF N Ew YORK, N.I Y. .n

' osolLLA'i'loN-nEsPoNsivr-z DEVICE'.

Nasa-1,638. y

Specication of Letters Patent.

, Patented June 26, 1906.'

Application Bled January 20,1906. Serial 110.296.932. I/

sive Devices, of which the following is a speciication.

vM invention relates to devices for detecting eeble electrical currents or oscillations, in general, and especially such currents or osclllations which are developed in wirelesstele aph receiving s stems.

I ave discovered t at the gaseous medium intervening between two separated electrodes, put into a condition of'molecular activity,

l become highly sensitive to electrical oscillations, so that the passage across said medium oi electrical oscillations will alter the conductivity thereof and therefore create current var1ations in a circuit including said electrodes. In an oscillation-responsive device of this type heretofore employed-by me the circuit which included the aforesaid electrodes also included a battery or other source of electromotive force and a si al-indicating device. I have discovered, owever, that such external source of electromotive force is not essential to the operation of an oscillation-res Onsive device, the sensitive element of whic is a gaseous medium in a condition of molecular activity, inasmuch as the device itself may constitute a source oi' electromotive force; and I have discovered also that it is not necessary to pass the electrical oscillations to be detected through such gaseous medium, inasmuch as the conductivity of the latter may be altered by passing such oscillations through a solenoid surrounding the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide an oscillation-detector which requires no local battery and which embodies the principles above set forth.

My invention may best be understood by having reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this speciiication and which illustrate diagrammatically simple forms of receivers embodying my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an oscillation-responslve device having as its sensitive member a gaseous medium and which requires no-external source of electromotive force; and Fig. 2 represents an oscillation-responsive device having as its sensitive member a gaseous medium and in which the voscillations to be detected are not required to pass throu h such medium.

In i 1, A is an antenna, ounded at E and inc udin the electrodes B in series therewith. is a Bunsen burner, or other suitable source of gaseous combustion, the influence of which includes the electrodes B B. I

These electrodes may consist of platinum or carbon or one may be oi platinum and the other of carbon. If both electrodes are oi the same material, they should preferably be ol.' different sizes and if of different materials they may be of the same or of dierent sizes. When said electrodes are heated b the ame from the burner or other source of eated gas, C, an electromotive force is developed and creates a current in the local circuit which includes the telephone or other signal indicating device D the electrodes B B and the aseous medium between the said electrodes. Vhen electrical oscillations are developed in the antenna A by electromagnetic signalwaves, the passage of such oscillations through the sensitive gaseous conducting medium between the electrodes B B alters the.

conductivity thereof and thereby alters what may be termed the internal resistance of the flame-battery constituted by the electrodes B B and the flame from the burner C. Such change in conductivity. in the gaseous medium has the effect of creating current variations in the local circuit which are made manifest in the signal-indicating device D.

In Fig. 2, the electrodes B B are shown as .being different in size and constructed of the same material F is a solenoid connected in series with the antenna A and surrounding the gaseous medium which forms the sensitive element ofthe oscillation-responsive device. Said gaseous medium ma be produced by any suitable means, an although shown as produced by the flame oi a Bunsen burnerI do not wish to be limited to such means oi' producing it, for many other means may be employed. For example, a Crookes or other tube ma be used to project a beam of cathode-rays through said solenoid. However the gaseous medium may be produced I iind that the passage oi electrical oscillations through the solenoid F varies the conductivity of said medium and hence creates current variations in the local circuit which includes the telephone D, and electrodes B B. As shown in Fig. 2, the electromotive force which creates the local-circuit current is pro- IOO IIO

duced by the name-battery as in l but,

if desired, an'external battery or 'other source tectors are commonly employed.

I claim- 1. An oscillation-responsive device, comprising a sensitive gaseous conducting me? dium and constituting a sourceof electrometive force. f

2. An Voscillationresponsive device consistin oi' a {lame-battery.

V3. oscillation-responsive device, comprising two separated electrodes and a source of aseous combustion including said electro es Within its iniiuence, said electrodes be- -ing so constituted as to'develop an electromotive force under theacti'o of said combustion. .l j i f A 4. An Aoscillationresponsive device, compnsmg a sensltive gaseous. conductlng medlum, a solenold surrounding the same and means for conveying the oscillations to 'be detected to said solenoid.

5. An oscillation-responsive device comprising a sensitive aseous conducting medium, and means Wereb the conductivity of said medium may be a tered by electrical oscillations Without assing the oscillations to be detected theret ou h. Y l

In testimony whereof I ave hereunto sub` 1 scribed my name this 17th day'ofJanuary, 3 1906. i

LEE DE FOREST. Witnesses:

Plum? FARNSWORTH, LESTER TESTUT. 

